Published: Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at 7:51 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at 7:51 p.m.

For his first collegiate start Saturday at Georgia Tech, offensive left guard Dequan Miller of Wofford took some advice from former Terriers center Jared Singleton.

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North Greenville at Wofford, 7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 13

Miller kept his head down.

He resisted the urge to look around Bobby Dodd Stadium and soak in the moment of being on the field to begin the season against a team from the Atlantic Coast Conference.

That's what Singleton, an All-Conference player who graduated last season, strongly suggested.

“Jared said, 'When you walk through the day before, that is the time look around,' ” Miller said. “He told us, 'That's the time to be excited about where you are. But when you get out there for the game, don't look around. Don't look up in the stands.' So on that first play, at least, I never looked up or around. I stayed focused.

“I mean, he was the Remington Award winner (top center in the country). You have to listen to him.”

Miller, a third-year sophomore from A.C. Flora High School, took a redshirt year in 2012 and saw action in only one game last season as he recorded three knockdown blocks against Presbyterian. He was part of a largely inexperienced offensive line that helped Wofford last week rush for 271 yards and 5.8 per carry, better numbers than home team Georgia Tech managed in its eventual 38-19 win.

Beside Miller, at left tackle, was redshirt freshman Davis Lenoir in his first collegiate game, in addition to preseason all-conference members T.J. Chamberlain (junior right guard) and Anton Wahrby (sophomore right tackle).

“The experience was great,” said Lenoir, from Collierville, Tenn. “The first snap was crazy. It was something I've always looked forward to. But once that first happened, it was football time. I felt like a fish in water. I really did. My coaches and teammates helped get me ready.”

Wofford also had a first-time starting center in sophomore Bradley Way (Fort Mitchell, Ky). Four other linemen who saw action are redshirt freshmen. There was Mike Jones (Danville, Ky.) at left tackle, Justin “Big Country” Lott (Braxton, Ga.) at left guard, Roo Daniels (Hammond School in Columbia) at center and Chuck Rouse (Wando High) at right guard. Not only did they play well against an FBS team, but none of them committed a penalty. The centers had no bad snaps.

“I was pleased, especially for the first game and having such a young group,” Wofford offensive line coach Eric Nash said. “The second team, when they got in there, did some good things as well. I was proud of everybody. It was a good test for them. I thought they did well. And it wasn't like they were going against chopped liver.”

Georgia Tech, in fact, featured the massive and massively talented Adam Gotsis, an All-ACC defensive tackle. The 6-foot-5, 300-pound junior finished second on the team in sacks last season behind a player who went on to the San Diego Chargers. Gotsis had just three tackles against Wofford.

“Some people would say we played well,” Lenoir said. “And we were prepared. But we didn't execute as well as we could have and, obviously, the game slipped away from us (after being down only five points in the fourth quarter). We can do better and we will.”

“This is a good confidence-booster,” Miller said. “We still have a long ways to go, but I think we showed that we are not a question mark.”

<p>For his first collegiate start Saturday at Georgia Tech, offensive left guard Dequan Miller of Wofford took some advice from former Terriers center Jared Singleton.</p><p>Miller kept his head down. </p><p>He resisted the urge to look around Bobby Dodd Stadium and soak in the moment of being on the field to begin the season against a team from the Atlantic Coast Conference.</p><p>That's what Singleton, an All-Conference player who graduated last season, strongly suggested.</p><p>“Jared said, 'When you walk through the day before, that is the time look around,' ” Miller said. “He told us, 'That's the time to be excited about where you are. But when you get out there for the game, don't look around. Don't look up in the stands.' So on that first play, at least, I never looked up or around. I stayed focused.</p><p>“I mean, he was the Remington Award winner (top center in the country). You have to listen to him.”</p><p>Miller, a third-year sophomore from A.C. Flora High School, took a redshirt year in 2012 and saw action in only one game last season as he recorded three knockdown blocks against Presbyterian. He was part of a largely inexperienced offensive line that helped Wofford last week rush for 271 yards and 5.8 per carry, better numbers than home team Georgia Tech managed in its eventual 38-19 win.</p><p>Beside Miller, at left tackle, was redshirt freshman Davis Lenoir in his first collegiate game, in addition to preseason all-conference members T.J. Chamberlain (junior right guard) and Anton Wahrby (sophomore right tackle).</p><p>“The experience was great,” said Lenoir, from Collierville, Tenn. “The first snap was crazy. It was something I've always looked forward to. But once that first happened, it was football time. I felt like a fish in water. I really did. My coaches and teammates helped get me ready.”</p><p>Wofford also had a first-time starting center in sophomore Bradley Way (Fort Mitchell, Ky). Four other linemen who saw action are redshirt freshmen. There was Mike Jones (Danville, Ky.) at left tackle, Justin “Big Country” Lott (Braxton, Ga.) at left guard, Roo Daniels (Hammond School in Columbia) at center and Chuck Rouse (Wando High) at right guard. Not only did they play well against an FBS team, but none of them committed a penalty. The centers had no bad snaps.</p><p>“I was pleased, especially for the first game and having such a young group,” Wofford offensive line coach Eric Nash said. “The second team, when they got in there, did some good things as well. I was proud of everybody. It was a good test for them. I thought they did well. And it wasn't like they were going against chopped liver.”</p><p>Georgia Tech, in fact, featured the massive and massively talented Adam Gotsis, an All-ACC defensive tackle. The 6-foot-5, 300-pound junior finished second on the team in sacks last season behind a player who went on to the San Diego Chargers. Gotsis had just three tackles against Wofford.</p><p>“Some people would say we played well,” Lenoir said. “And we were prepared. But we didn't execute as well as we could have and, obviously, the game slipped away from us (after being down only five points in the fourth quarter). We can do better and we will.”</p><p>“This is a good confidence-booster,” Miller said. “We still have a long ways to go, but I think we showed that we are not a question mark.”</p>